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LyricDisplay vs ProPresenter

LyricDisplay logo
LyricDisplay

Open-source lyric control app with outputs for projectors, stage displays, OBS and vMix.

  • Open Source
  • Free
ProPresenter logo
ProPresenter

Live presentation and production software for worship services, events and broadcast.

  • Subscription
  • Free Trial

Summary

  • LyricDisplay is free, while ProPresenter is paid ($289/year (one seat)).
  • LyricDisplay is open source (GPL-3.0-or-later); ProPresenter is proprietary.
  • Both run on Windows and macOS.
  • Both support: Songs & lyrics: Song library · Songs & lyrics: Paste or import plain-text lyrics · Songs & lyrics: Automatic lyrics import (e.g. SongSelect, online sources) · Songs & lyrics: Motion backgrounds behind lyrics · Inputs & other sources: Countdown timers & clocks · Hardware control: MIDI · Automation & extensibility: Network API (HTTP / WebSocket) · Screens & outputs: Multiple audience screens · Screens & outputs: Stage display / confidence monitor · Screens & outputs: Lower thirds / alpha key for streaming · Connectivity & collaboration: Works fully offline · Connectivity & collaboration: Remote control from phone or tablet.

Only in LyricDisplay

  • Runs on Linux

Only in ProPresenter

  • Slides & presentations: PowerPoint (partial in LyricDisplay)
  • Broadcast video: NDI (paid add-on in LyricDisplay)

Based on confirmed data only. Unknown values are not counted.

Side by side

  • Supported Supported
  • Partial Partial
  • Paid add-on or tier Paid add-on / tier
  • Not supported Not supported
  • Unknown Unknown
  • * Hover or tap for note
Product LyricDisplay logo LyricDisplay ProPresenter logo ProPresenter
Overview
Price Free / Donation-supported$289/year (one seat)Free trial
Open source Yes (GPL-3.0-or-later)No
Deployment Desktop appDesktop app
Status activeactive
Platforms
Windows Supported Supported
macOS Supported Supported
Linux Supported Not supported
Web browser Not supported Not supported
iOS / iPadOS Not supported Not supported
Android Not supported Not supported
ChromeOS Not supported Not supported
Content
Songs & lyrics Supported Supported
Song library Supported Supported
Import from other presentation software Supported: EasyWorship song databases can be imported, keeping title, writers, copyright and CCLI number. Unknown
Paste or import plain-text lyrics Supported: Imports text, LRC, Markdown, RTF and DOCX files, and lyrics can be pasted from websites. Supported
Automatic lyrics import (e.g. SongSelect, online sources) Supported: Built-in online lyric search via LRCLIB, Lyrics.ovh and OpenHymnal. Supported: Requires a SongSelect subscription and CCLI licence.
Chord charts for musicians Unknown Supported: Chord charts can be shown on stage screens (e.g. from Planning Center or MultiTracks).
Motion backgrounds behind lyrics Supported: Each output can have its own image or video background. Supported
CCLI usage reporting Unknown Supported: Songs triggered from presentations with a CCLI number can be auto-reported once SongSelect is signed in.
Bible Unknown Supported
Free translations included Unknown Supported: 130+ translations in 25+ languages are available in the Bible module.
Licensed translations (NIV, ESV, etc.) Unknown Paid add-on or tier: Some translations are sold separately.
Slides & presentations Partial Supported
PowerPoint Partial: PowerPoint files are imported as lyric slides (one text slide per PowerPoint slide); it is not a general slide player. Supported: Since 21.2, .pptx files can be imported natively as editable presentations without PowerPoint installed.
Keynote Unknown Partial: Keynote files are not converted; on Mac they are triggered from a playlist and Keynote takes over the output.
Google Slides Unknown Unknown
Canva Unknown Unknown
PDF Unknown Unknown
Plays slide animations & transitions Unknown Partial: The native PowerPoint importer keeps simple builds and transitions; emphasis and some other animations are not supported.
Media Unknown Supported
Video playback Unknown Supported
Audio playback Unknown Supported
Images Unknown Supported
YouTube / online video Unknown Unknown
Inputs & other sources Supported Supported
Live camera / capture card Unknown Supported
Screen sharing Unknown Supported: AirCast (added in 18) receives AirPlay screens and audio as inputs.
Web pages Unknown Supported: Web pages can be shown as a web fill on slides.
Countdown timers & clocks Supported: A separate timer display driven by a schedule/agenda. Supported
On-screen messages & alerts Unknown Supported
Audience interaction (polls, Q&A, Slido, follow along) Unknown Unknown
Languages
Multilingual Supported Supported
Interface in multiple languages Unknown Unknown
Songs in other languages Unknown Unknown
Bibles in other languages Unknown Supported
Bilingual lyrics on screen Supported: Translation lines can be grouped with each lyric line and shown together. Unknown
Bible translations side by side Unknown Supported: Multiple translations can be shown on one slide using a theme with one text box per translation.
Non-Latin & right-to-left scripts Unknown Supported
Integrations
Software integrations Unknown Supported
Planning Center Unknown Supported: Planning Center Services plans can be added as playlists; requires a separate Planning Center subscription.
ChurchSuite Unknown Unknown
WorshipTools Planning Unknown Unknown
Hardware control Supported Supported
MIDI Supported: MIDI and OSC control. Supported
DMX lighting Unknown Supported
Stream Deck / Companion Unknown Supported: Official Elgato Stream Deck plugin since 7.9; Bitfocus Companion also has a ProPresenter module.
Automation & extensibility Supported Supported
Network API (HTTP / WebSocket) Supported: Documented HTTP (OpenAPI) and Socket.IO realtime APIs. Supported: Public network API (OpenAPI spec) introduced in ProPresenter 7.9; older TCP/IP control also exists.
Plugins / extensions Unknown Unknown
Built-in scripting / macros Unknown Supported: Macros run multi-step action sequences from a slide, a device or on demand.
Webhooks / triggers to other systems Unknown Unknown
MCP server for AI assistants Unknown Unknown
AI features (e.g. verse detection, lyric formatting) Unknown Unknown
Presenting & control
Screens & outputs Supported Supported
Multiple audience screens Supported: Two default lyric outputs plus up to four custom outputs, a stage display and a timer display. Supported: Up to 8 unique outputs; multiple computers can be linked with Network Link.
Stage display / confidence monitor Supported Supported
Lower thirds / alpha key for streaming Supported: Outputs can be added as transparent browser sources in OBS, vMix and Wirecast. Supported: Separate key/fill outputs are available for broadcast graphics.
Output as a web page (TVs, OBS / vMix browser source) Supported: Every output is a browser URL that can be opened on other devices on the LAN or in streaming software. Unknown
Broadcast video Paid add-on or tier Supported
NDI Paid add-on or tier: NDI output requires the separately downloaded (free) LyricDisplay NDI companion. Supported
SDI Unknown Supported
Built-in streaming & recording Unknown Supported
Stream to any RTMP destination Unknown Supported: The Capture feature streams any output over RTMP, records it to disk, or both; Resi streaming is also supported.
YouTube Live Unknown Supported
Facebook Live Unknown Supported
Record the output to a file Unknown Supported
TV output Unknown Paid add-on or tier
Apple TV app Unknown Paid add-on or tier: Via ProDisplay (separate per-screen subscription), which runs on Apple TV and select Google TV devices.
Android / Google TV app Unknown Paid add-on or tier: Via ProDisplay on select Google TV devices (separate per-screen subscription).
Fire TV app Unknown Unknown
Roku app Unknown Unknown
Chromecast / AirPlay Unknown Unknown
Connectivity & collaboration Supported Supported
Cloud sync of library Unknown Supported: ProPresenter Cloud syncs playlists, media and settings between machines.
Works fully offline Supported Supported
Remote control from phone or tablet Supported: Join-code-protected mobile/web controllers. Supported: ProPresenter Remote app is included with an active subscription.
Multiple operators at once Unknown Partial: ProPresenter Cloud (beta in 22) lets others prepare playlists and make mid-service changes while an operator presents.
Web native (runs in a browser) Unknown Not supported

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